Method for executing mouse function of electronic device and electronic device thereof

ABSTRACT

A method for executing a mouse function of electronic device and an electronic device thereof are provided. In the present method, an amount and a relative position of input signals are detected by a sensor module. Then, whether the amount and the relative position are respectively conformed to a predetermined value is determined. If the predetermined values are conformed, whether the input signal is conformed to a specific signal is determined when a variation of the relative position is occurred. Finally, a corresponding mouse function is executed according to a type of the variation if the variation is conformed to the specific signal. As a result, a mouse device is no longer needed for a user to accomplish a directional operation on the electronic device so as to prevent inconvenience of particularly carrying a mouse device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of and claims prioritybenefit of an U.S. application Ser. No. 12/422,302, filed on Apr. 13,2009, now pending, which claims the priority benefit of Taiwanapplication serial no. 97120454, filed on Jun. 2, 2008. The entirety ofeach of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporatedby reference herein and made a part of specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for operating an electronicdevice. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method forexecuting a mouse function of an electronic device and the electronicdevice thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

With development of computer technology, popularisation of computersystems is increasingly improved, and the computer system becomes one ofindispensable tools in people's daily life. By executing variousapplication programs, the computer system can not only swiftly processdocuments, but can also accomplish functions such as playing multimediafiles, browsing websites, and storing data, etc. Generally, when a useroperates the computer system, a mouse is applied to perform directionaloperations, so as to open files or execute functions.

However, taking a commonly used mouse as an example, though the mouse inaccord with human engineering is easy to be operated, a size thereof isrelatively great and is inconvenient to be carried around. For most ofthe laptop users accustomed to carrying an additional mouse, it maycause considerable inconvenience. If the user selects a mouse that iseasy to be carried, it may have a disadvantage of utilizationinconvenience due to a relatively small size of the mouse. To resolvesuch a problem, a touch pad is applied to the laptop for substitutingthe mouse.

Comparatively, most of the users accustomed to using the mouse cannotquickly and proficiently control the mouse cursor or select a file viathe touch panel, so that original operating habits have to be changedfor operating the touch panel, which may cause a considerableinconvenience for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for executinga mouse function of an electronic device, by which various mousefunctions can be activated by directly detecting a hand action of auser, so as to avoid inconvenience caused by carrying a mouse.

The present invention is directed to an electronic device having a mouseexecuting function, by which a user can operate the electronic devicemore comfortably by operating a virtual mouse.

The present invention provides a method for executing a mouse functionof an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a sensormodule. In the present method, an amount and relative position of aplurality of input signals are first detected by the sensor module.Next, whether the amount and the relative position respectively conformto a predetermined value is determined. If the predetermined values areconformed, and when the relative position of the input signals isvaried, whether the variation is conformed to a specific signal isdetermined. Finally, a corresponding mouse function is executedaccording to a type of the variation if the variation conforms to thespecific signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor module is a touchinput unit, and the input signal is a touch signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after the amount is judged tobe conformed to the predetermined value, the variation represents thatthe touch signal is disappeared or a position thereof is shifted.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the predetermined valuesare conformed, and when the relative position of the input signals isvaried, the step of determining whether the variation is conformed tothe specific signal includes judging the varied touch signal isconformed to a first specific signal if counting from a specificdirection, the varied touch signal is an i-th touch signal of all of thetouch signals; and judging the varied touch signal is conformed to asecond specific signal if counting from the specific direction, thevaried touch signal is a j-th touch signal of all of the touch signals,wherein i and j are positive integers less than or equal to thepredetermined value, and i is not equal to j.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the variation is conformedto the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mousefunction according to the type of the variation includes obtaining anamount of the touch signal detected by the touch input unit during afirst time period when the varied touch signal is conformed to the firstspecific signal; executing a function of single-clicking a left buttonof a mouse if the amount is 1; and executing a function ofdouble-clicking the left button of the mouse if the amount is 2.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the variation is conformedto the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mousefunction according to the type of the variation includes obtaining amotion track of the touch signal if a time for the touch input unitcontinually detecting the touch signal exceeds a second time period, andwhen the varied touch signal is conformed to the first specific signal,and executing a mouse wheel function according to a direction of themotion track, wherein the second time period is greater than the firsttime period.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the variation is conformedto the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mousefunction according to the type of the variation includes obtaining anamount of the touch signal detected by the touch input unit during thefirst time period when the varied touch signal is conformed to thesecond specific signal, and executing a function of single-clicking aright button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the variation is conformedto the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mousefunction according to the type of the variation includes obtaining anamount of the varied touch signal detected by the touch input unitduring the first time period when the varied touch signal issimultaneously conformed to the first specific signal and the secondspecific signal, and executing a function of single-clicking a middlebutton of the mouse if the amount is 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after the amount is judged tobe conformed to the predetermined value, the method further includesobtaining the motion track of the touch signal if a time for the touchinput unit continually detecting all of the touch signals exceeds athird time period, and when all of the touch signals are simultaneouslyvaried, and correspondingly moving a mouse cursor according to themotion track.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the touch input unit includesa touch pad or a touch screen.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor module includes animage capturing unit and a sensing unit. The image capturing unit isused for capturing an image of a hand, wherein the hand includes atleast a finger. The input signals are motion variation signals of thefinger that are detected by the sensing unit, and the specific signal isa motion variation signal of a specific finger.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the step of capturing theimage of the hand includes defining a specific region where the hand islocated according to the image of the hand, and judging whether the handhas a specific pose in the specific region for generating the motionvariation signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the specific pose includes avertical movement or a horizontal movement of the finger.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the predetermined valuesare conformed, and when the relative position of the input signals isvaried, the step of determining whether the variation is conformed tothe specific signal includes judging the finger having the motionvariation is conformed to a first specific finger if counting from aspecific direction, the finger having the motion variation is an i-thfinger of all of the fingers; and judging the finger having the motionvariation is conformed to a second finger if counting from the specificdirection, the finger having the motion variation is a j-th finger ofall of the fingers. Wherein, i and j are positive integers less than orequal to the predetermined value, and i is not equal to j.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the variation is conformedto the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mousefunction according to the type of the variation includes obtaining anamount of vertical movements of the finger during a first time periodwhen the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the firstspecific finger; executing a function of single-clicking the left buttonof the mouse if the amount is 1; and executing a function ofdouble-clicking the left button of the mouse if the amount is 2.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the variation is conformedto the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mousefunction according to the type of the variation includes obtaining amotion track of the finger if the finger is judged to be horizontallymoved after a second time period, and when the finger having the motionvariation is conformed to the first specific finger, and executing amouse wheel function according to a direction of the motion track,wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the variation is conformedto the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mousefunction according to the type of the variation includes obtaining anamount of vertical movements of the finger during the first time periodwhen the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the secondspecific finger, and executing a function of single-clicking the rightbutton of the mouse if the amount is 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, if the variation is conformedto the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mousefunction according to the type of the variation includes obtaining anamount of vertical movements of the finger during the first time periodwhen the finger having the motion variation is the first specific fingerand the second specific finger, and executing a function ofsingle-clicking the middle button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after the step of judgingwhether the hand located at the specific region has the specific posefor generating the motion variation signal, the method further includesobtaining a motion track of the finger if all of the fingers arehorizontally moved after a third time period, and moving a mouse cursoraccording to the motion track.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the image is captured by theimage capturing unit, and the sensing unit includes an infraredprojection device.

The present invention provides an electronic device having a mouseexecuting function, suitable for executing a plurality of mousefunctions according to motion variations of a hand. The electronicdevice includes a display, a sensor module and a judging module. Thedisplay has a screen capable of displaying a mouse cursor. The sensormodule is coupled to the display for detecting an amount and a relativeposition of input signals. The judging module is simultaneously coupledto the display and the sensor module for judging whether the amount andthe relative position are respectively conformed to a predeterminedvalue. If the predetermined values are conformed, and when the relativeposition of the input signals is varied, whether the variation isconformed to a specific signal is determined. A corresponding mousefunction is executed according to a type of the variation if thevariation is conformed to the specific signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor module is a touchinput unit, and the input signal is a touch signal. The variationrepresents that the touch signal is disappeared or a position thereof isshifted.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module judgesthat the varied touch signal is conformed to a first specific signal ifcounting from a specific direction, the varied touch signal is an i-thtouch signal of the touch signals; and judges the varied touch signal isconformed to a second specific signal if counting from the specificdirection, the varied touch signal is a j-th touch signal of the touchsignals. Wherein, i and j are positive integers less than or equal tothe predetermined value, and i is not equal to j.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module obtains anamount of the touch signal detected by the touch input unit during afirst time period when the varied touch signal is conformed to the firstspecific signal, and executes a function of single-clicking a leftbutton of the mouse if the amount is 1, or executes a function ofdouble-clicking the left button of the mouse if the amount is 2.

In an embodiment of the present invention, wherein when the varied touchsignal is conformed to the first specific signal, and if a time for thetouch input unit continually detecting the touch signal exceeds a secondtime period, the judging module obtains a motion track of the touchsignal, and executes a mouse wheel function according to a direction ofthe motion track, wherein the second time period is greater than thefirst time period.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module obtains anamount of the touch signal detected by the touch input unit during thefirst time period when the varied touch signal is conformed to thesecond specific signal, and executes a function of single-clicking aright button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module obtains anamount of the varied touch signal detected by the touch input unitduring the first time period when the varied touch signal issimultaneously conformed to the first specific signal and the secondspecific signal, and executes a function of single-clicking a middlebutton of the mouse if the amount is 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the judging modulejudges the touch signals are simultaneously varied, and if a time forthe touch input unit continually detecting the touch signals exceeds athird time period, the judging module obtains a motion track of thetouch signal, and correspondingly moves a mouse cursor according to themotion track.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the touch input unit includesa touch pad or a touch screen.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor module includes animage capturing unit and a sensing unit. The image capturing unit isused for capturing an image of a hand, wherein the hand includes atleast a finger. The input signals are motion variation signals of thefinger that are detected by the sensing unit, and the specific signal isa motion variation signal of a specific finger.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit defines aspecific region where the hand is located according to the image of thehand. The judging module judges whether the hand has a specific pose inthe specific region for generating the motion variation signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the specific pose includes avertical movement or a horizontal movement of the finger.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module judges thefinger having the motion variation is conformed to a first specificfinger if counting from a specific direction, the finger having themotion variation is an i-th finger of the fingers; and judges the fingerhaving the motion variation is conformed to a second finger if countingfrom the specific direction, the finger having the motion variation is aj-th touch signal of the fingers. Wherein, i and j are positive integersless than or equal to a predetermined value, and i is not equal to j.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module obtains anamount of vertical movements of the finger during a first time periodwhen the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the firstspecific finger, and executes a function of single-clicking the leftbutton of the mouse if the amount is 1, and executes a function ofdouble-clicking the left button of the mouse if the amount is 2.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module obtains amotion track of the finger if the finger is judged to be horizontallymoved after a second time period, and when the finger having the motionvariation is conformed to the first specific finger, and executes amouse wheel function according to a direction of the motion track,wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module obtains anamount of vertical movements of the finger during the first time periodwhen the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the secondspecific finger, and executes a function of single-clicking the rightbutton of the mouse if the amount is 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module obtains anamount of vertical movements of the finger having the motion variationduring the first time period when the finger having the motion variationis the first specific finger and the second specific finger, andexecutes a function of single-clicking the middle button of the mouse ifthe amount is 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the judging module obtains amotion track of the finger if all of the fingers are horizontally movedafter the third time period, simultaneously, and moves the mouse cursoraccording to the motion track.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit includes aninfrared projection device.

In the present invention, motion variations of a user's hand is directlydetected, so as to correspondingly execute various mouse functions onthe electronic device. Therefore, clicking of mouse buttons and draggingof the mouse cursor can be accomplished without utilizing an actualmouse. Accordingly, inconvenience of carrying an additional mouse can beavoided.

In order to make the aforementioned and other objects, features andadvantages of the present invention comprehensible, a preferredembodiment accompanied with figures is described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device having amouse executing function according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for executing a mousefunction of an electronic device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for executing a mousefunction of an electronic device according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To fully convey the spirit of the present invention, embodiments areprovided below for describing the present invention in detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device having amouse executing function according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 includes adisplay 110, a sensor module 120 and a judging module 130. Theelectronic device 100 can be a computer system such as a desktopcomputer or a laptop computer, etc., which is not limited by the presentinvention.

In the electronic device 100, the display 110 has a screen fordisplaying a mouse cursor. The sensor module 120 is coupled to thedisplay 110 for detecting an amount of and a relative position of inputsignals. The judging module 130 is coupled to the display 110 and thesensor module 120 for judging whether the amount and the relativeposition are respectively conformed to a predetermined value. If thepredetermined values are conformed, and when the relative position ofthe input signals is varied, whether the variation is conformed to aspecific signal is determined. If the variation is conformed to thespecific signal, a corresponding mouse function is executed according toa type of the variation.

During operations of the display 110, the sensor module 120 and thejudging module 130, when the sensor module 120 detects that the amountof the input signal is conformed to the predetermined value, and thejudging module 130 judges that the variation of the relative position ofthe input signals is conformed to the specific signal, the judgingmodule 130 then executes the corresponding mouse function according tothe type of the variation.

However, a different sensor module 120 can detect different type of theinput signals. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for executinga mouse function of an electronic device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the presentembodiment, the sensor module 120 is a touch input unit, and accordinglythe input signal is a touch signal. In the following content, how todetect hand actions of a user via the touch input unit, so as to executevarious mouse functions on the electronic device 100 is described indetail.

First, in step 210, at least one touch signal is detected via the touchinput unit (i.e. the sensor module 120). Wherein, the touch input unitcan be a touch pad or a touch screen, etc., which is used for detectingthe touch signals generated when the user touches the touch input unitby the hand. In the present embodiment, since the touch input unit cansupport a multi-point touch technology, more than one touch signals canbe simultaneously detected.

Wherein, in the present embodiment, the touch input unit can detect apredetermined amount of the touch signals for activating the mousefunctions. Besides, the user can continually perform actions on thetouch input unit to maintain the touch signal existing a predeterminedtime, so as to activate the mouse functions. For example, the user cancontinually perform actions on the touch input unit by 5 fingers for apredetermined time, so as to activate the mouse functions. How toactivate the mouse functions is not limited by the present invention.

After at least one touch signal is detected by the touch input unit(step 210), in step 220, the judging module 130 judges whether theamount of the touch signal is conformed to the predetermined value. Forsimplicity's sake, in the following embodiments, the predeterminedvalues are all assumed to be 5, though such value is not used forlimiting the present invention. In the step 220 of the presentembodiment, whether an amount of touch points between the hand of theuser and the touch input unit is 5 is judged. If the amount of the touchpoints between the hand of the user and the touch input unit is 5, 5touch signals are then detected by the touch input unit, and the amountof the touch signal is then conformed to the predetermined value.

After the amount of the touch signal is judged to be conformed to thepredetermined value (the step 220), in step 230, the judging module 130judges whether there is any variation of the relative position of thetouch signals. In detail, once a certain touch signal is disappeared ora position thereof is varied, such touch signal is then judged to bevaried. In all of the touch signals detected by the touch input unit, aslong as one or more touch signals is varied, a step 240 is executed, bywhich the judging module 130 judges whether the variation is conformedto the specific signal.

In the following content, the step for the judging module 130 judgingwhether the variation is conformed to the specific signal are described.In the present embodiment, if counting from a specific direction, thevaried touch signal is an i-th touch signal of all of the touch signals,the varied touch signal is judged to be conformed to a first specificsignal. If counting from the specific direction, the varied touch signalis a j-th touch signal of all of the touch signals, the varied touchsignal is judged to be conformed to a second specific signal. Wherein, iand j are positive integers less than or equal to a predetermined value,and i is not equal to j.

For example, in the present embodiment, i and j are respectively 2 and3, and the touch input unit detects 5 touch signals. Therefore, when theuser touches the touch input unit by fingers, the touch input unit canautomatically number the 5 touch signals according to a relativeposition of the touch signals. In detail, the touch signals are numberedas 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th touch signals according to a specificdirection (for example from the left to the right). After the touchinput unit numbers the touch signals, the judging module 130 judgeswhether the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th touch signals are varied accordingto the numbers of the touch signals continually detected by the touchinput unit. The above variation represents that for example, any of thetouch signals is disappeared or a position thereof is shifted.

As described above, assuming the varied touch signal is the 2nd touchsignal, the touch signal is then conformed to the first specific signal.However, if the varied touch signal is the 3rd touch signal, the touchsignal is then conformed to the second specific signal.

When the varied touch signal is conformed to the specific signal, instep 250, the judging module 130 executes a corresponding mouse functionaccording to a type of the variation. In an embodiment, if the variedtouch signal is conformed to the first specific signal (i.e. the variedtouch signal is the 2nd touch signal counted from the left to theright), the judging module 130 obtains an amount of such touch signaldetected by the touch input unit during a first time period. If theamount is 1, the judging module 130 executes a function ofsingle-clicking a left button of the mouse on the electronic device 100;and if the amount is 2, the judging module 130 executes a function ofdouble-clicking the left button of the mouse. In view of a using angleof the user, after the user touches the touch input unit by 5 fingers ofhis right hand, if a forefinger (which can generate the 2nd touch signalcounted from the left to the right) withdraws from the touch input unitand touches the touch input unit again during the first time period, thefunction of single-clicking the left button of the mouse is thenexecuted on the electronic device 100. If the user repeats an action ofwithdrawing the forefinger from the touch input unit and touching theforefinger on the touch input unit twice during the first time period,since the touch input unit can detects two touch signals, the functionof double-clicking the left button of the mouse is then executed.

Accordingly, when the varied touch signal is conformed to the firstspecific signal, and if a time for the touch input unit continuallydetecting such touch signal exceeds the second time period (the secondtime period is greater than the first time period), the judging module130 obtains a motion track of the touch signal via the touch input unit,and executes a mouse wheel function according to a direction of themotion track. Namely, if a time for the forefinger touching the touchinput unit reaches the second time period, when the user slides theforefinger back and forth on the touch input unit, the mouse wheelfunction is executed on the electronic device 100.

In another embodiment, if the varied touch signal is conformed to thesecond specific signal (i.e. the varied touch signal is the 3rd touchsignal counted from the left to the right), the judging module 130obtains an amount of such touch signal detected by the touch input unitduring the first time period, wherein if the amount is 1, a function ofsingle-clicking a right button of the mouse is then executed on theelectronic device 100. Moreover, if the varied touch signal issimultaneously conformed to the first specific signal and the secondspecific signal, the judging module 130 then obtains an amount of thevaried touch signal detected by the touch input unit during the firsttime period, and executes a function of single-clicking a middle buttonof the mouse when the amount is 1. Further, after the user touches thetouch input unit by 5 fingers of his right hand, if the forefinger(which can generate the 3rd touch signal counted from the left to theright) withdraws from the touch input unit and touches the touch inputunit again during the first time period, the function of single-clickingthe right button of the mouse is then executed on the electronic device100. If the user simultaneously withdraws the forefinger and a middlefinger from the touch input unit and touches the forefinger and themiddle finger on the touch input unit again during the first timeperiod, since now the varied touch signal is simultaneously conformed tothe first specific signal and the second specific signal, the functionof single-clicking the middle button of the mouse is then executed.

In another embodiment, after the judging module 130 judges that theamount of the touch signal is conformed to the predetermined value, ifall of the touch signals are simultaneously varied, and a time for thetouch input unit continually detecting the touch signals exceeds a thirdtime period, the judging module 130 obtains the motion track of thetouch signal, and correspondingly moves a mouse cursor according to themotion track. In other words, after a time for the 5 fingers touchingthe touch input unit reaches the third time period, the user cansimultaneously move the 5 fingers for correspondingly changing aposition of the mouse cursor on the display 110.

After the corresponding mouse function is executed according to the typeof the variation, the step 230 is repeated, by which the judging module130 continuously judges whether there is any variation of the relativeposition of the touch signal. If there is any variation, the step 240 isexecuted for judging whether the variation is conformed to the specificsignal, and in the step 250, a corresponding mouse function is executed.Otherwise, the flowchart of the method for executing the mouse functionof the electronic device is ended.

It should be noted that as long as any of the varied touch signals isnot conformed to the aforementioned defined specific signal, theelectronic device 100 then does not react to hand actions of the user.Namely, in this case, none mouse function is activated.

In the present embodiment, the right hand forefinger of the user isdefined as the left button of the mouse, and the middle finger isdefined as the right button of the mouse. Therefore, clicking actions ofthe forefinger and the middle finger can correspondingly activate thefunction of single-clicking the left button of the mouse, the functionof double-clicking the left button of the mouse and the function ofsingle-clicking the right button of the mouse. Simultaneously clickingaction of the forefinger and the middle finger can activate the functionof single-clicking the middle button of the mouse, and back and forthmoving the forefinger can activate the mouse wheel function.Simultaneously moving all of the fingers can correspondingly move themouse cursor. However, it should be noted that though in the aboveembodiment the touch signal generated by touching the touch input unitvia the right hand forefinger of the user is conformed to the firstspecific signal, and the touch signal generated by touching the touchinput unit via the right hand middle finger is conformed to the secondspecific signal, so that the user can activate the aforementioned mousefunctions via the actions of the forefinger and the middle finger, it isonly one embodiment of the present invention. In other words, definingof the first specific signal and the second specific signal can bevaried according to different utilization requirements (for example, adifferent habitual hand), so that the user can activate the mousefunctions via habitual fingers.

In the following content, cases of applying different sensor modules 120are described. In the following embodiment, the sensor module 120 ofFIG. 1 is composed of an image capturing unit and a sensing unit. FIG. 3is a flowchart of executing mouse functions based on an above structure.Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the handactions of the user are detected by the image capturing unit and thesensing unit, so as to execute the corresponding mouse function on theelectronic device 100. First, in step 310, the image capturing unit (forexample, a video camera) of the sensor module 120 captures an image ofthe user's hand. Since the sensor module 120 of the present embodimentincludes the image capturing unit and the sensing unit, the input signalis a motion variation signal of the finger that is detected by thesensing unit.

Next, in step 320, the sensing unit of the sensor module 120 defines aspecific region where the hand is located according to the image of thehand. Next, in step 330, the judging module 130 judges whether the handhas a specific pose in the specific region for generating the motionvariation signal according to the motion variation signal detected bythe sensing unit. In the present embodiment, the sensing unit is forexample, an infrared projection device for projecting infrared ray tothe user's hand to obtain a plurality of coordinates of a hand profile,so as to illustrate figures of the user's hand and fingers. Accordingly,such information can be provided to the judging module 130 for judgingwhether the hand is conformed to the specific pose. Wherein, thespecific pose includes a vertical movement or a horizontal movement ofthe finger. Moreover, in the present embodiment, whether the handprofile within the image is conformed to the specific pose can be judgedfor activating the mouse function.

If the judging module 130 judges that the hand has the specific pose inthe specific region, it is then determined that the user has put hishand at a predetermined position and is ready to start operating theelectronic device 100. Next, in step 340, the judging module 130 judgeswhether there is a motion variation of any of the fingers. In thepresent embodiment, the coordinates of the hand profile obtained via theinfrared projection can be used for representing current positions ofthe fingers, and the judging module 130 can judge whether the finger hasthe motion variation of vertical movement or horizontal movement, etc.by comparing the coordinates. In detail, each coordinate of the handprofile for example, has three vectors, and an average of thecoordinates represents a current position of the whole hand. Once avector representing a horizontal direction within the average of thecoordinates is varied, it represents the user's hand has an action ofthe horizontal movement. When a vector representing a vertical directionwithin the average of the coordinates is varied, it represents theuser's hand has an action of the vertical movement.

As long as one or more fingers have the motion variation, in step 350,the judging module 130 judges whether the finger having the motionvariation is conformed to a specific finger according to a relativeposition of the fingers, and a motion variation signal corresponding tothe specific finger is taken as the specific signal. In the presentembodiment, if counting from a specific direction, the finger having themotion variation is an i-th finger of all of the fingers, such finger isthen judged to be conformed to a first specific finger (i.e. thecorresponding motion variation signal is conformed to the specificsignal). If counting from the specific direction, the finger having themotion variation is a j-th finger of all of the fingers, such finger isthen judged to be conformed to a second specific finger (i.e. thecorresponding motion variation signal is conformed to the specificsignal). Wherein, i and j are positive integers less than or equal tothe predetermined value (i.e. 5), and i is not equal to j.

If the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the specificfinger, in step 360, the judging module 130 executes the correspondingmouse function according to the type of the variation. It should benoted that in the present embodiment, as long as any of the fingershaving the motion variation is not conformed to the defined specificfinger, none mouse function can be activated. After the step 360, thestep 340 is repeated, by which the judging module 130 continually judgeswhether any finger has the motion variation. If a certain finger has themotion variation, the follow-up steps are executed for correspondinglyexecuting the mouse function according to the type of the variation whenthe finger having the motion variation is conformed to the specificfinger. If the motion variation of any finger cannot be detected, theflowchart of the method for executing the mouse function of theelectronic device is ended. In the following embodiment, types of themotion variation and corresponding relation of the mouse functions aredescribed.

In an embodiment, if the finger having the motion variation is conformedto the first specific finger, the judging module 130 obtains an amountof vertical movements of the finger during the first time period. If theamount is 1, the function of single-clicking the left button of themouse is executed, and if the amount is 2, the function ofdouble-clicking the left button of the mouse is executed. Similarly,when the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the firstspecific finger, and if the judging module 130 judges that a time forthe finger having the motion variation being horizontally moved reachesa second time period, the judging module obtains a motion track of thefinger, and executes the mouse wheel function according to a directionof the motion track, wherein the second time period is greater than thefirst time period.

Moreover, when the finger having the motion variation is conformed tothe second specific finger, the judging module 130 obtains an amount ofvertical movements of the finger during the first time period. If theamount is 1, a function of single-clicking the right button of the mouseis executed. When the finger having the motion variation is the firstspecific finger and the second specific finger, the judging module 130obtains an amount of vertical movements of the first specific finger andthe second specific finger during the first time period. If the amountis 1, a function of single-clicking the middle button of the mouse isexecuted.

In another embodiment, after the judging module 130 judges that the handprofile is conformed to the specific pose, if all of the fingers arejudged to be horizontally moved after the third time period,simultaneously, the judging module 130 obtains the motion track of thefingers, and correspondingly moves a position of the mouse cursor on thedisplay 110 according to the motion track.

Assuming the judging module 130 judges that the second finger (countedfrom the left to the right) having the motion variation is conformed tothe first specific finger, and judges that the third finger (countedfrom the left to the right) having the motion variation is conformed tothe second specific finger, when the user put his hand at apredetermined position and poses a specific pose, the sensing unit cancontinually detects signals corresponding to the finger actions, so thatthe judging module 130 can judge whether any finger has the motionvariation. Taking the right hand of the user as an example, clicking theforefinger of the right hand once can activate the function ofsingle-clicking the left button of the mouse; and clicking theforefinger of the right hand twice can activate the function ofdouble-clicking the left button of the mouse. If the user slides backand forth the forefinger of the right hand, the mouse wheel function isactivated. Clicking the middle finger of the right hand once canactivate the function of single-clicking the right button of the mouse,and if the user simultaneously single-clicks the forefinger and themiddle finger of the right hand, the function of single-clicking themiddle button of the mouse is then activated. Moreover, if the usersimultaneously moves 5 fingers on a plane, the mouse cursor is thencorrespondingly moved.

In the above embodiment, the image capturing unit of the sensor module120 is used for capturing the image of the hand, and the motionvariation signals of the fingers are provided by the sensing unit (forexample, the infrared projection device), so that the judging module 130can identify the finger having the motion variation and the type of themotion variation, and correspondingly execute different mouse functionson the electronic device 100. It should be again noted that definitionof the first specific finger and the second specific finger is only anembodiment which is not used for limiting the present invention.

In summary, according to the method for executing the mouse functions ofthe electronic device and the electronic device thereof, actions of theuser's hand are obtained via the sensor module, and the judging modulecorrespondingly execute the mouse functions on the electronic deviceaccording to the finger having the motion variation and the type of themotion variation. The present invention can provide a virtual mouseoperating platform, so that not only a mouse utilization habit of theuser can be inherited, but also inconvenience of carrying an additionalmouse can be avoided.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present inventioncover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fallwithin the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for executing a mouse function of anelectronic device, the electronic device comprising a sensor module, andthe method comprising: detecting an amount of a plurality of inputsignals and a relative position of the input signals via the sensormodule; judging whether the amount and the relative position arerespectively conformed to a predetermined value; if the predeterminedvalues are conformed, and when a variation of the relative position ofthe input signals is occurred, judging whether the variation isconformed to a specific signal; and if the variation is conformed to thespecific signal, executing a corresponding mouse function according to atype of the variation, wherein the sensor module comprises an imagecapturing unit and a sensing unit, the image capturing unit is used forcapturing an image of a hand, wherein the hand comprises at least afinger, and the input signals are motion variation signals of the fingerthat are detected by the sensing unit.
 2. The method for executing amouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe step of capturing the image of the hand comprises: defining aspecific region where the hand is located according to the image of thehand; and judging whether the hand has a specific pose in the specificregion for generating a motion variation signal.
 3. The method forexecuting a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim1, wherein the specific signal is a motion variation signal of aspecific finger.
 4. The method for executing a mouse function of anelectronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the specific posecomprises a vertical movement or a horizontal movement of the finger. 5.The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device asclaimed in claim 3, wherein if the predetermined values are conformed,and when the relative position of the input signals is varied, the stepof determining whether the variation is conformed to the specific signalcomprises: judging the finger having the motion variation is conformedto a first specific finger if counting from a specific direction, thefinger having the motion variation is an i-th finger of the fingers; andjudging the finger having the motion variation is conformed to a secondfinger if counting from the specific direction, the finger having themotion variation is a j-th finger of the fingers, wherein i and j arepositive integers less than or equal to a predetermined value, and i isnot equal to j.
 6. The method for executing a mouse function of anelectronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein if the variation isconformed to the specific signal, the step of executing thecorresponding mouse function according to the type of the variationcomprises: obtaining an amount of vertical movements of the fingerduring a first time period when the finger having the motion variationis conformed to the first specific finger; executing a function ofsingle-clicking a left button of the mouse if the amount is 1; andexecuting a function of double-clicking the left button of the mouse ifthe amount is
 2. 7. The method for executing a mouse function of anelectronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein if the variation isconformed to the specific signal, the step of executing thecorresponding mouse function according to the type of the variationcomprises: obtaining a motion track of the finger if the finger isjudged to be horizontally moved after a second time period, and when thefinger having the motion variation is conformed to the first specificfinger, wherein the second time period is greater than the first timeperiod; and executing a mouse wheel function according to a direction ofthe motion track.
 8. The method for executing a mouse function of anelectronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein if the variation isconformed to the specific signal, the step of executing thecorresponding mouse function according to the type of the variationcomprises: obtaining an amount of vertical movements of the fingerduring the first time period when the finger having the motion variationis conformed to the second specific finger; and executing a function ofsingle-clicking a right button of the mouse if the amount is
 1. 9. Themethod for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimedin claim 5, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specificsignal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function accordingto the type of the variation comprises: obtaining an amount of verticalmovements of the finger by the sensing unit during the first time periodwhen the finger having the motion variation is the first specific fingerand the second specific finger; and executing a function ofsingle-clicking a middle button of the mouse if the amount is
 1. 10. Themethod for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimedin claim 2, wherein after the step of judging whether the hand locatedat the specific region has the specific pose for generating the motionvariation signal, the method further comprises: obtaining a motion trackof the finger if the fingers are horizontally moved after a third timeperiod, and moving a mouse cursor according to the motion track.
 11. Themethod for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the sensing unit includes an infrared projectiondevice.
 12. An electronic device having a mouse executing function,suitable for executing a plurality of mouse functions according tomotion variations of a hand, the electronic device comprising: adisplay, having a screen capable of displaying a mouse cursor; a sensormodule, coupled to the display for detecting an amount of a plurality ofinput signals and a relative position of the input signals; and ajudging module, simultaneously coupled to the display and the sensormodule for judging whether the amount and the relative position arerespectively conformed to a predetermined value, wherein if thepredetermined values are conformed, and when the relative position ofthe input signals is varied, whether the variation is conformed to aspecific signal is determined, and a corresponding mouse function isexecuted according to a type of the variation if the variation isconformed to the specific signal, wherein the sensor module comprises animage capturing unit and a sensing unit, the image capturing unit isused for capturing an image of a hand, wherein the hand includes atleast a finger, and the input signals are motion variation signals ofthe finger that are detected by the sensing unit.
 13. The electronicdevice as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensing unit defines aspecific region where the hand is located according to the image of thehand, and the judging module judges whether the hand has a specific posein the specific region for generating the motion variation signal. 14.The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the specificsignal is a motion variation signal of a specific finger.
 15. Theelectronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the specific posecomprises a vertical movement or a horizontal movement of the finger.16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the judgingmodule judges the finger having the motion variation is conformed to afirst specific finger if counting from a specific direction, the fingerhaving the motion variation is an i-th finger of the fingers, and judgesthe finger having the motion variation is conformed to a second fingerif counting from the specific direction, the finger having the motionvariation is a j-th touch signal of the fingers, wherein i and j arepositive integers less than or equal to a predetermined value, and i isnot equal to j.
 17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16,wherein the judging module obtains an amount of vertical movements ofthe finger during a first time period when the finger having the motionvariation is conformed to the first specific finger, and executes afunction of single-clicking a left button of the mouse if the amount is1, and executes a function of double-clicking the left button of themouse if the amount is
 2. 18. The electronic device as claimed in claim17, wherein the judging module obtains a motion track of the finger ifthe finger is judged to be horizontally moved after a second timeperiod, and when the finger having the motion variation is conformed tothe first specific finger, and executes a mouse wheel function accordingto a direction of the motion track, wherein the second time period isgreater than the first time period.
 19. The electronic device as claimedin claim 16, wherein the judging module obtains an amount of verticalmovements of the finger during the first time period when the fingerhaving the motion variation is conformed to the second specific finger,and executes a function of single-clicking a right button of the mouseif the amount is
 1. 20. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16,wherein the judging module obtains an amount of vertical movements ofthe finger having the motion variation during the first time period whenthe finger having the motion variation is the first specific finger andthe second specific finger, and executes a function of single-clicking amiddle button of the mouse if the amount is
 1. 21. The electronic deviceas claimed in claim 13, wherein the judging module obtains a motiontrack of the finger if the fingers are horizontally moved after thethird time period, simultaneously, and moves the mouse cursor accordingto the motion track.
 22. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12,wherein the sensing unit includes an infrared projection device.